Nights Like This

CHAPTER 15

I punched the password on my door's lock while I silently hope na that the unit is clean and I didn't leave anything kahapon kung saan saan. Ang lakas lakas ng loob ko na mag invite sa bahay ko but I can't remember well if it's organized. It's clean naman, I'm sure of that because I always clean but I have the habit of leaving my things everywhere.

Tumunog ang smart lock ng door ko and binuksan ko na ang pinto.

Nilingon ko si Vance na nasa likod ko.

"Pasok ka," sabi ko sa kanya. Nilakihan ko yung bukas ng pinto para maka pasok sya. "Make yourself at home."

"Dito ka pala naka tira? I have a friend who lived here before but he's on the tower B," aniya habang naka hawak sa pader ang kamay nya as a support habang tinatanggal nya ang sapatos nya.

"Yup! I've been living here simula ng mag trabaho ako sa company," sabi ko sa kanya.

Kinuha ko sa shoe rack yung isang tsinelas ko na extra saka nilagay sa harap nya.

Nag angat sya ng tingin sa akin. He looked at me and then on the slipoers that I placed in front of him. It's a bright pink fuzzy slippers that I bought online.

"Wala ng iba?" tanong nya. He looks so done while staring at the pink slippers.

I pressed my lips together so that the laugh that's about to come out from my lips if I try to open my mouth will subside. Umiling ako sa kanya and then pressed my lips tighter.

Having a no choice, he slipped his big feet on my slippers. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi matawa ng tuluyan dahil sa ilalim ng kanyang black and sleek coat is a very cute black cat printed socks na ngayon ay nag join forces sa pink kong slippers. Dahil malaki nga ang paa nya, his toes are hanging sa dulo ng tsinelas because it wouldn't fit.

Seriously! How can I supress my laughter when I am seeing the manly, gorgeous and hot Vance Robles like this? Really! I'd give my everything to see him like this always!

"Ang saya mo ha," he commented. I nod to him because I am really enjoying what I'm seeing.

He sighed and then looked at his feet and then to me. Naka taas na ang kilay nya like he's not really liking what he's seeing.

"What? Come on, it's cute naman ah!" pampa lubag loob ko sa kanya.

Cute naman kasi talaga! If I could just take a picture right now to commemorate this day, gagawin ko. Kaso lang baka lalong ma inis si Vance.

Kung nasa office kami at alam lang ng mga subordinates namin na ang medyas ng tinitilian at kinatatakutan nilang Sir Vance ay may cute na print ng pusa, I don't think mai- intimidate pa sila.

Natutuwa pa rin sa nakikita ko, I ushered him to the living room. I am so lucky na walang gamit ko ang naka kalat. But when I opened my room, parang binagyo na. It's okay. He won't be inside my room naman.

"What coffee do you want?" tanong ko sa kanya when he settled in the sofa.

I opened the television pars ma- libang sya sa while I prepare our cofee.

"Anything. Ikaw ang bahala," aniya. Naka patong ang siko nya sa tuhod nya and he's brushing his palms together while he looks around the unit.

When I was planning with my interior designer, I told him that I want this to look like a home. A home that would give me the comfort and warmth whenever I'm here and he perfectly delivered. My unit is full of warm and neutral tones na nagbibigay sa akin ng home-y vibe and I love it so much.

"Here. Have some," Inilapag ko ang mug of hot americano coffee sa lamesa na nasa harap namin while I made myself chai tea. I love cofee but I don't drink it kapag pa gabi na.

"Thanks," aniya saka binuhat ang mug to to sip from it.

"I brewed the beans myself," proud na sabi ko. "One of my friend, Talitha, her family owns a coffee farm and she invited us once to visit and she taught us to roast and brew coffee. Surprisingly, I found it very enjoyable kaya tinuloy tuloy ko na."

He took a sip again. "It's good, Camila. You toasted and brewed this perfectly," aniya habang tumatango and then he paused. "I can see na hindi ka lang sa coffee interested," aniya.

I followed the direction that he's looking at my super mini alcohol bar at the side. Mini lang dahil mga wines lang ang naroon because I love wines. That mini bar is essential whenever I crave for something bitter sweet and the only thing that could quench that is alcohol.

"Oh, yes. I also love drinking and alcohol din. Mukha lang wala sa mukha ko but I love drinking and to have fun," sabi ko sa kanya. "Ikaw? Do you drink?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"I do. I also have an interest with drinks and alcohol bars. You know, I think you're someone who wants to have fun when you're happy but also likes to drink alone when you're really stressed," aniya.

My mouth circled with what he said and my hands flew to cover my mouth. "How did you know?"

Nag kibit balikat sya and he looked at me meaningfully. "It's just my guess."

That's just his guess but he guessed that perfectly. He really pointed that out spot on.

"Hindi naman siguro kita naka inuman before, 'no? I don't think I remember having a drink with you because if I have, there's no way that I'd forget about you," sabi ko sa kanya.

Vance raised one of his eyebrows and one corner of his lips went out. "Really? You wouldn't forget about me?"

"Oo naman," sagot ko.

Kung talagang naka inuman ko sya before, there's no way that I'd forget about that face because he has the most gorgeous face for me. I mean, marami naman akong kakilala at kaibigang may hitsura but Vance just hits different. For me, he is the standard.

He's my boss but I can't deny that he's handsome. I think there's no harm naman with admitting na he looks good.

Vance flashed a smile but it was just for a seconds dahil bigla ring nawala but I saw it.

"Where's Coco? I don't see her here?"

"Oh. Si Coco? She's with Mommy at the house. Supposedly, ngayong gabi ang uwi nya but judging the heavy rain, baka bukas na lang," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Ang lakas nga ng ulan. Mukhang hindi pa titigil," aniya habang naka lingon sya sa window walls ko na kitang kita ang pag buhos ng ulan and it's so scary to look at it.

"It's almost dinner time. Do you want to stay here for dinner habang hindi pa humuhupa kahit paano yung ulan?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Gabi na rin talaga and I'm really getting hungry. I bet sya rin. Huling kain pa namin ay lunch kanina and it's been hours. I need rice to fill myself and bring back the energy that I lost during the day.

"Are you sure, it's okay with you?" paninigurado nya.

"Of course," I confirmed and then tumango naman sya.

I mean, it may look weird to some na nasa bahay ko yung boss ko but I don't care naman about what people would say. I am just letting him to stay because of the heavy rain. We may became a little bit closer than expected but I still remember naman na he's still my boss and I gotta respect the boundary that wde have.

Finishing off my tea, tumayo na ako para makapag prepare ng dinner namin. Years living in the dorm honed my cooking skills and I am pretty confident with my food.

"Do you want me to help you with anything?" tanong nya habang sinusundan ako papunta sa kusina ko.

"Yes." Inilapag ko sa lababo ang mga tasa namin and humarap sa kanya then I leaned on the edge of the sink and crossed my hands.

"Ano yun? I'll help you with anything."

"What should we eat? What do you wanna eat?" tanong ko sa kanya.

The question might sound simple but that's like the hardest question ever. Sa dami ng choices and varieties, it's so hard to choose and it's up to him kung ano ang gusto nyang kainin. I am literally passing him the baton.

"How about you?" tanong nya sa akin pa balik.

Muntik na akong ma- tigilan na naman s sagot nya dahil I almost interpreted his answer wrong on my mind. What the heck is wrong with me?

"It's up to you." Vance's eyes slightly widened and I saw his pupils dilated because of the shock. "I mean, whatever you want to eat. It's fine with me."

"How about we see first kung anong pwedeng lutuin and from that, let's decide what to eat. I don't mind eating anything, " aniya.

Sounds like a good idea. Tumango ako sa kanya and I let him open my refrigerator to see kung anong pwedeng lutuin. It's safer than deciding to cook adobo tapos wala pala akong soy sauce na available. Well, impossible naman na wala because I have everything in my kitchen. Next to my room, my kitchen is the second favorite of me in this unit.

Vance started to rummage my ref and even my cabinets to see kung ano ang mga available. Nang matapos sya, he looked at me.

"What? Anong pwedeng lutuin?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"How about creamy chicken tuscan?" he suggested. "Naka kita ako ng chicken and cream and I kinda craved for it."

"Okay. Sure. But... Uh... I don't know how to cook that," I confessed.

I have definitely tried that dish before but I haven't tried to cook that once. Hindi ko naman ine- expect na italian food pala yung gusto nyang kainin.

"I do. I'll cook for us," he presented.

"But you're my guest. It's not really good if I'd make you cook for our dinner."

"It's fine, Camila. I insist. I don't really mind cooking kung papayag kang galawin ko yung kusina mo. It's just a simple and fast dish to cook," aniya.

Hesitant pa ako but in the end, hinayaan ko na lang din sya na mag luto. He really took the 'make yourself at home' too seriously dahil nagluto na sya agad on the very first time that he came to my home.

"How do you know where I put everything?" tanong ko sa kanya because ni hindi man lang sya nagtatanong sa akin kung saan ko pinatong o saan naka lagay ang mga ingrdients ko. It's like he knows where is it at the back of his hands.

Sinarado nya yung drawer after he got the sun dried tomato.

"I just remember everything," sagot nya.

While Vance is occupied with cooking the dish, I cooked rice. Dahil Pilipino ako, rice is esssential. While I wait for him to finish it, pinapanood ko din sya para at the same time natututunan ko yung recipe.

I am actually impressed with him. Halatang he knows his way in the kitchen. Mukhang effortless lang sa kanya ang pag lu- luto.

On the other note, it's really a new sight for me na hindi ako yung naka tayo sa harap ng stove. This is the first time na may nag luto na ibang tao sa kusina ko.

"I'm done," sabi nya and then turned off the fire.

Tumayo ako at sinilip niluto nya and it looks and smells so good. I bet it tastes good too.

"Let's eat!" Excitedly said.

We ate at the counter top, facing each other and we really enjoyed the meal. He cooks well, as expected. I am so full.

After that very hearty meal, we had a glass of wine while we wait for the rain to stop.